Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 02_ Shadow Academy - Kevin J. Anderson [60]
Qorl nodded grimly. "Perhaps he won't be quite that displeased . . . this time."
Brakiss looked at him. "We can only hope."
Tamith Kai limped into the control chamber, utterly outraged. Her eyes still glowed with violet fire, and her hands were set in clawed curves, as if she wanted to shred hull plates with her fingernails. "So they've escaped! You let them get away?"
Brakiss looked at her mildly. "I didn't let them do anything, Tamith Kai.
I don't see what more we could have done. Our duty now is to get away and plan our next step-because you can be sure there will be another opportunity."
Qorl powered up the station engines, and they began moving the Shadow Academy to a new hiding place.
22
Jacen and Jaina crowded together, pushing closer to the transmission area in the Jedi academy's Comm Center as the image of Han and Leia came into focus. The twins cried out their greet ings.
Han Solo laughed in delight. "Looks like I didn't have to-come after you kids in the Falcon after all!"
"And I didn't have to mobilize the whole New Republic to rescue you."
Leia beamed. "We got Luke's report yesterday. The scouts I had out searching for you kids are already looking for the Shadow Academy." In the background, Chew-bacca roared a message in the Wookiee language to Lowie, who responded in kind.
In the Comm Center, Luke Skywalker stood next to Artoo-Detoo, letting the excited young Jedi Knights talk. Jacen's words tumbled out in a rush.
"Lando Calrissian says something like this can never happen again. He's already working with his assistant Lobot to come up with refinements to GemDiver Station's security. I think he's even going to use Corusca gems somehow."
Luke spoke up. "Yes, but I doubt the Shadow Academy will come here again to look for new trainees. We know what Brakiss is up to now-I suspect he'll go somewhere else for potential new Dark Jedi."
"But we brought the Shadow Academy's best ship back with us," Jaina said.
"And you should see the design. State-of-the-art. Not like any of the models in the manuals, Dad!"
Luke put a hand on her shoulder. "We need to offer it to the New Republic, Jaina. It isn't ours-"
Han interrupted. "Hey, Luke, you need us to send some mechanics over to check out the ship, try to figure out its design?"
Luke shrugged. "Go right ahead if you want, but I've got a skilled mechanic and an electronics specialist right here on Yavin 4, ready to start on the project right away-Jaina and Lowie."
Leia flashed a bright, warm smile. "All right, Luke. We'll send our engineers to study it, but you keep the ship there. Use it when you need to. You earned it rescuing Jacen, Jaina, and Lowie. Besides, you're an important part of the New Republic. We'll all feel better knowing you've got a safe, last ship when you go running off across the galaxy-and don't tell me you've forgotten how to fly a fast ship!"
Luke gave an embarrassed chuckle. "No, I haven't forgotten-but I could still use the practice."
Jaina and Lowbacca sat in her quarters, tinkering with the holographic projector, making a coarse schematic of their new ship, the Shadow Chaser. The schematic was not as accurate as the one they had made of Lowie's T-23 sky hopper, but they would refine it as they learned more about the Imperial ship.
Lowie roared as the hologram lost its focus.
"Master Lowbacca says that he most fervently hopes a comet will crash into the vacation home of the designer of this subsystem," said Em Teedee from the clip on Lowie's belt.
Lowie growled down at the miniature translator droid. Em Teedee had been completely purged of his corrupted Imperial programming, and the irritating little droid was now back to his normal self.
"Well, how am I supposed to know that you don't wish me to translate Wookiee epithets?" the little droid said defensively. "Although you must admit, I certainly captured the feeling well.